To be axed ... the Darling Harbour Jazz and Blues Festival. Photo: Supplied

The festival's organiser, Leslie Moore, said jazz musicians would protest outside the offices of the Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority (SHFA) and the NSW Parliament to express their anger at the decision to cancel the family-friendly annual festival, which takes place over the June long weekend.

''A little probing will tell you that except [for] one or two, most people at SHFA don't like jazz and believe that different events would be more suitable, like, for instance, a light show," he said.

Moore said the SHFA had refused to explain its decision to axe the festival: ''Since we're talking about taxpayers' monies, I believe the people of Sydney, and especially the musicians who made this festival what it is today, have a right to know.''

The SHFA declined to answer questions about why it had axed the festival and whether funding had been allocated to hold this year's event.

But it issued a statement that read: ''Damian Jeacle, acting director, precinct activation and visitor services, said the authority was refreshing the activation and events plan for Darling Harbour in line with the precinct's transformation over the coming years.''